White Pigeon Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

North English, Iowa 52316
Saturday, March 22, 2003 15:44 CST

The airplane was destroyed by impact forces after a loss of control while attempting to avoid a power line and trees during takeoff climb from a grass taxiway (1,000 feet by 70 feet). The pilot receiving training reported that he and the certified flight instructor (CFI) briefed the flight and conducted an aircraft preflight. He reported the purpose of the flight was to practice dead reckoning navigation, and to do a grass strip landing. He reported that the airplane operated normally and there were no indications of mechanical difficulty. He reported the airplane touched down within 150 feet of the south end of the taxiway and he made a full stop landing. He back taxied and then performed a "short field" takeoff. He attempted to lift off at 65 knots indicated airspeed about one-half way down the taxiway, but the "aircraft was not climbing." He reported that the CFI came on the controls during the climb out. He recalled seeing the orange balls on the power lines located at the north end of the taxiway, and he heard the stall warning horn sounding. The airplane veered to the left, and then the right side of the airplane impacted the terrain. The Pilot's Operating Handbook indicated that the required takeoff distance to clear a 50 foot obstacle from a grass airstrip on a 15 degree Celsius day required approximately 1,409 feet. Runway 9/27 at the private airstrip was 2,400 feet by 70 feet. The prevailing wind at the time of the accident was 280 degrees at 10 knots. The inspection of the airplane revealed no pre-existing anomalies.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall. Contributing to the accident was the CFI's improper decision to attempt to takeoff from a short, grass taxiway instead of departing from a runway aligned with the prevailing winds, the short, grass taxiway, the crosswind, trees, and transmission wires.